Lille have accepted £42m bid for superstar defender from Man United to complete first summer signing ahead of Real Madrid

Lille have accepted £42m bid for superstar defender from Man United to complete first summer signing ahead of Real Madrid

Manchester United have seen their €50 million (£42.2m) bid for Leny Yoro accepted by Lille, according to reports in France.

Before the current Premier League season begins, Erik ten Hag is eager to add at least one new central defender, and United has been working hard to make that happen.

Everton, who is waiting for United to come up with a price closer to £70 million, has turned down two bids for Jarrad Branthwaite, the most recent of which was £45 million with an additional £5 million in add-ons.

Matthijs de Ligt, who has stated he is open to joining United, is another player that United is trying to sign.

However, Bayern Munich is demanding €50 million (£42.2 million).

Although Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the 18-year-old Yoro, United still has competition for the player on their shortlist.

According to L’Equipe’s Nabil Djellit, United have now submitted a formal offer of €50m (£42.2m) plus add-ons for Yoro and that has been accepted by Lille.

However, while United’s offer is considered ‘superior’ to Madrid’s, Yoro’s preference is to join the Champions League holders this summer.

Reports in Spain from Madrid-based newspaper Marca have claimed that United had made a fresh approach last week but were told that Yoro is holding out for Madrid to reach an agreement with Lille.

Madrid have still to agree a transfer fee with Lille but the Spanish champions are only willing to go up to €40m (£33.7m) plus add-ons for the highly rated France Under-21 international.

Speaking in March, Thierry Henry, who coaches France’s Under-21s and will manage the national team at this summer’s Olympics in Paris, said of Yoro: ‘We often talk about Leny.

‘He is having an exemplary start to his career. To establish himself in Lille as he is doing.

‘He always has some young reactions, and that is completely normal. It comes slowly. You make mistakes and sometimes you get embarrassed.

‘[But] he goes on to play one match after another, he starts quite often and quite often is good. It’s really good for him. He is professional. He’s a good guy, well educated.

‘I like him. He performs well. Afterwards, there are always things to refine, but that’s completely normal. Frankly, it’s really a more than positive progression.’